Tour Guide ➣ Carl Grimes

11. The Fight

The gazebo in the center of town really was Hannah's favorite place to be. She could never understand why no one else adored it as she did. But I guess, she thought, she should be happy about that. The fewer people wandering by, the more time she got to spend there. It was odd how different the two lonelinesses felt to her - the loneliness of being in her home and the loneliness of being in the gazebo. Sure, she didn't regret her decision to live alone, but there was something about how blocked off it made her feel sometimes. At least when she was outside Hannah could see the world around her, the people. From where she sat today, on the wood of the railing that wrapped around the structure, Hannah could see Miss McCants tending to her garden like always, bent over the roses that had just begun to bloom. They were simple red roses, but Hannah loved to see the care Miss McCants took for them, the way she treated them like a treasure in her hands. Hannah could also see Daryl standing by the fence. She still hadn't been able to understand the man. He didn't scare her the way he used to, but Hannah didn't know what to think of him. He was big and rough, and yet he seemed somewhat harmless. The whole group seemed harmless.

Hannah began to think about what she heard Gabriel saying the other day. Sure they were more aggressive than anyone Hannah had been used to and were always trying to invent new ways of doing things, but they were no harm to Alexandria. If anything, Hannah knew, they were there to help. Ever since they arrived, Hannah's world seemed to grow. Maybe it was just because of Carl, because of the things he reminded her of, but this group showed them there is a world beyond Alexandria, whether they want it or not.

Hannah continued to survey the town in front of her. She could see Sasha in the watch tower, her gun facing out past the fence. She watched as the woman stood very still, focused on what could be beyond the walls. Hannah had never liked guns, especially before everything, but the sight of the woman in the tower made her feel safe. Alexandria was safe.

"HELP!"

Hannah heard screaming from farther in town. There were people running towards Ron's house, and the sound of their heavy feet hitting the concrete rang in Hannah's ears. She quickly put down the book she had been holding, stashing it beneath the loose board of the gazebo along with her family picture, and ran towards the sound.

Almost everyone she knew was huddled in a circle, all wearing faces of shock, of horror. She pushed through the layers of bodies to the front, and Hannah was met with the sight of Rick Grimes tackling Pete Anderson, both men covered in blood that could have belonged to either. Across from Hannah, Ron stood with his fists tight, anger clear on his face, though Hannah couldn't quite tell who it was meant for. Near him, Hannah saw Carl watching as well. She felt bad for the boys, they didn't deserve to have to watch this.

"Stop!" Jessie yelled before running forward. She tried to reach for her husband, hoping to pull him away but was quickly smacked by Pete's outraged hand. Hannah could only watch as she fell to the ground immediately, leaving Ron more furious than before. He ran to his mom, helping her stand farther away from the fight. As Hannah watched, she could see the tears that had built in his eyes, the ones he was desperately holding back.

Rick quickly flipped Pete, letting his head bang against the pavement below. She looked up to see Carl moving closer to the fight, determination and fear on his face. She quickly shook her head at him, begging him not to get involved, but he only glanced at her. When their eyes met for that single second, it was like they were back in the woods, hiding from the Roamers. She wanted to give him the same comfort he had given her, she wanted to make all of this end for him.

"Dad, get off!" He yelled at his father, who hadn't seen him coming and pushed him away, just like Jessie. He fell to the ground, his hat rolling off in the process. Hannah didn't know if she should move. She was frozen as the boy curled up on the ground in front of her. She looked at the crowd around her, hoping for an answer, but all she was met with were wide eyes and glares. So, Hannah let herself move towards the boy, picking up his fallen hat and bending down at his side. Now that she was closer, Hannah could see that he wasn't physically hurt, and yet he hadn't gotten up.

"Carl?" She said as softly as she could for it to still be heard over the fighting. She didn't touch him, not wanting to upset him any more than he already was, but she could see that his eyes were shut tight. For the first time, he looked scared. He looked like a boy.

Finally, a couple of other people ran to help him up, and he stood as if nothing had happened. Carl ran his hand through his long hair, finally looking at Hannah. He didn't smile and he didn't frown. He simply moved his hand to motion at the hat in her hands. She handed it to the boy and he finally spoke, "Sorry."

They both return to their spots in the circle, their quick moment over.

"Stop it, right now" Deanna finally stepped in and the men looked up at her.

"You touch them again and I'll kill you," Rick said lowly to Pete. Hannah finally understood what was happening. This was her fault, she had been the one to tell Rick about Pete. And yet, Hannah felt no guilt. She could see Sam hiding behind Carol, who met her eyes and only nodded. Hannah didn't feel bad for Pete.

"Damn it, Rick, I said stop!" Deanna shouted. People began to move towards Rick, who immediately pulled out a gun he had been keeping in his jacket. Hannah jumped back at the sight and looked back at Carl. He could only watch his father with sad eyes.

"Put that gun down, Rick" Deanna tried to reason.

"You still don't get it. None of you do!" Rick said as he waved the gun around the circle of people. "We know what needs to be done and we do it. We're the ones who live. You," Rick pointed the gun at Deanna, "You just sit and plan and hesitate. You pretend like you know, but you don't!" Rick paused long enough for everyone to hear silenced shots ring out by the fence, but started up again before anyone could question it. "You wish things weren't the way they are. Well, you want to live? You want this place to stay standing?" Rick asked, "Your way of doing things is done. Things don't just get better because you-- you want them to. Starting right now, we live in the real world. We have to control who lives here."

"That's never been more clear to me than it is right now," Deanna says sternly.

"Me-- me?" Rick points to himself with the gun still in his hand, and he laughs as if it's an impossible idea, "You mean me?"

"Your way is gonna destroy this place. It's gonna get people killed. It's already gotten people killed. I'm not just gonna stand by and let it keep happening. If you don't fight, you die! I'm not gonna stand--"

Rick is cut off when Michonne hits him with the butt of her gun, knocking him to the ground.

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Hiii lovelies! I don't entirely love this chapter but oh well. I hope you all enjoyed. Get ready for the story to start picking up!

How do we feel about Hannah's feelings toward Ron? I don't want them to come off romantic but I can't tell if they do. I want Hannah to be close to him and feel for him but not like him, you know? What do you guys think?

Thanks for Reading!